Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Over the years, it's been my great privilege to work with countless partners in DOT's campaign to end America's distracted driving epidemic. As I've traveled the country spreading the word about the dangers of texting and cell phone use behind the wheel, I've been joined by parents, students, educators, employers, legislators, and so many others who are committed to keeping roads safe in their communities.

But one of the organizations that has been with us from the start is NOYS--the National Organizations for Youth Safety. NOYS, a national youth health and safety coalition, is committed to promoting youth empowerment and building partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and promote healthy lifestyles. And for the last several years, NOYS and its youth leaders have been leading the charge to help teens get the message that cell phones and driving don't mix.

This weekend, young people from across the country are traveling to Washington, DC, to participate in NOYS's third annual Teen Distracted Driving Summit. More than 100 teens are expected to attend the three day event, which will include presentations, interactive activities, and training sessions on how to combat distracted driving.

But these youth safety leaders aren't just here to listen--they're here to take action.  

As it is for many of us, this is one of my favorite times of the year. Of course I love the holidays, but I'm also looking forward to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership's annual "Be Ready. Be Buckled." art contest.

Each year our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and its safety belt partners host this contest for kids who have a friend or relative in the truck or bus industry. Each year, we ask kids everywhere to use their artwork to show truck and bus drivers that safety belts save lives.

And each year, America's kids deliver terrific safety-minded entries.

In 2010, 78 percent of commercial bus and truck drivers wore safety belts while operating behind the wheel. That was up from 74 percent in 2009 and only 65 percent in 2007. This a very positive trend that all of us here at DOT would like to see continue.

Why? It's simple: seat belts save lives.

In 2012, fifth grader Richard He from Parsippany, New Jersey, won in the older category

Ahead of schedule. Under budget. Best use of innovation.

Those are the three categories used for America's Transportation Awards, a joint effort by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Here at DOT, we appreciate those three qualities as good stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and 2012's winners--many of which were funded in part by our Federal Highway Administration--offer solid proof of that.

 

The People's Choice Award, determined by online voting, went to the Florida DOT's A. Max Brewer Bridge replacement, also a winner as the Best Use of Innovation in a Medium-Sized (between $25 million and $200 million) Project. The original swing bridge over the Indian River in Titusville was aging and structurally deficient. As a limited lane bridge that opened and closed for marine traffic, it was also inadequate to support the volume of commuters and tourists heading to area jobs and attractions. But the bridge also stretched across a sensitive environmental area that featured both protected sea grass and manatee winter migration paths.

With a fixed span high enough to accommodate vessels navigating the river and careful attention to environmental impacts of construction, the new bridge has eliminated a constant chokepoint and protected the sensitive marine environment below. As the judges said, "No stone was left unturned in making this bridge the best it can be for motorists, maritime traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as the animals and plants that live near it."

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, but there's still plenty to be thankful for. So today, I want to join Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in sharing my gratitude for the hard work of our Federal Aviation Administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Acting Administrator Huerta spent last Tuesday in New York sharing his appreciation for FAA employees' tremendous effort during and after the devastating superstorm.

Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (left) talks with Tech Ops employees Jim Coolbaugh Jr. (center) and Eric Spare about the work they are doing to repair the Runway 31 Localizer after it was damaged by Sandy

The storm knocked out power, damaged homes, and caused gasoline shortages across the region, yet FAA employees reported to work to make sure the area's vital air traffic operation continued to run as smoothly as possible.

Local employees were joined by FAA specialists from up and down the East Coast who traveled to New York in the days immediately after the storm to lend a hand assessing damage, cleaning up the mess left by the storm, and fixing the 1,300 pieces of equipment the storm knocked out of service.

"The fact that we were able to restore air traffic so quickly was an important signal for the region and the country,” said Acting Administrator Huerta.

Before Thanksgiving, our Federal Railroad Administration launched a collaborative effort to remind rail industry employees about the dangers of using electronic devices on the job--whether they're working in a rail yard or in the cab of a large locomotive. FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo encouraged rail carriers to adopt peer-to-peer programs to combat electronic distractions and challenged all railroad employees to make the improper use of such devices while on the job socially unacceptable.

Device distraction endangers coworkers, railroad passengers, and those who live and work along rail lines. The risks are serious, and the consequences of a workplace accident can be tragic.

And while railroad employees who improperly use electronic devices on the job violate both federal regulations and railroad operating rules, Administrator Szabo, rail unions, and rail carriers understand that we can take more proactive steps to protect safety.

With peer-to-peer programs like the one already established by Union Pacific, rail employees will cultivate a culture of safety that keeps everyone alert and safe.

As Administrator Szabo, whose family has been in the railroad industry for five generations, said, "I know firsthand how distractions can lead to danger. That's why I'm calling on all rail industry employees to adopt a zero tolerance position on using electronic devices while working, building a safety culture where workers can confidently depend on one another."

Nestled between the ever-advancing adventure of Black Friday and the online bargain-hunting of Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday, a day to direct our holiday shopping enthusiasm toward America's 28 million independent businesses.

Many of us in the Obama Administration are joining the Small Business Administration and local Chambers of Commerce in encouraging everyone to visit a small business today.

I'm participating the old-fashioned way, by visiting the small businesses in the Peoria area--the same small businesses my family has frequented for decades.

If you've been a reader of this blog for a while, you know I love the small businesses in my hometown. Whether it's George's Shoeshine, the Spotted Cow, Metro Camera, or Holmes' Shoes, I've always been impressed with the level of service that Peoria's businesses provide.

And today, when I went to Burke's Jewelers to get a watch repaired, they had what I needed. And when I went to Russell's Fitness and Cycles to find a new bike for my 6-year-old grandson--please don't spoil the Christmas surprise!--once again they had just what my wife Kathy and I were looking for.

It's easy to get lost in the promotions of the holiday season, and it's always fun to find a bargain. But there's no substitute for a place where people know you and help you find exactly what you want or need.

That's why I love Peoria, and that's why I love America's small businesses. Yet another thing to be thankful for this weekend.

One of the key lessons demonstrated by hurricanes, blizzards, and other natural disasters in recent years is the value of emergency preparedness. And that's why the professionals on the U.S.-Canadian Emergency Preparedness Committee on Civil Transportation (EPCCT) conduct annual training events.

And during the last week of October--while many of us at DOT were preparing for Sandy--some in the EPCCT community were focused on the annual three-day emergency preparedness meeting October 24-26.

Monitoring Seaway activities

Hosted this year in Massena, NY, by DOT's Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC),  the annual EPCCT workshop helps maintain a close working relationship between the U.S. and Canada in supporting civil emergency preparedness and response planning activities. And this year's event was another success, with more than 35 people attending from both countries.

DOT was represented by our Emergency Coordinator's office as well as Regional Emergency Transportation Coordinators and Regional Emergency Transportation Representatives. Security and emergency response officials from our Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response also attended. Representatives from each Canadian province and various offices of Transport Canada joined  the delegation from US DOT.

The first day of the workshop included a thorough tour of the SLSDC’s operational facilities in Massena.

Deploying the emergency boom

As we celebrate our national Thanksgiving holiday, let's not forget those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The devastation along the East Coast reminds us to be grateful for the daily comforts and conveniences we often take for granted.

The storm also provides me with an opportunity to thank everyone from DOT who has pitched in to help restore the region and its transportation system. I'm grateful to all of them for their perseverance during a complex and difficult time.

And as the students at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy return to their families for Thanksgiving, I'd like to offer them a special thanks for their recent efforts.

Midshipmen at work in the Rocakways; all photos courtesy M/N Pluhowski, USMMA

After weathering the storm with power outages and minor structural damage, the Academy community directed its attention to those whose lives were turned upside down.

Frist, with support from the Parents Association, Plebe Weston Iannone led  the Class of 2016 in donating items from friends and family nationwide to help the hardest hit areas of New York. Midshipmen Matt Finlayson, Spencer Fletcher, and Christopher Benard worked with CAPT David Taliaferro (USMMA '07) of the Army National Guard, who arranged for an Army vehicle to pick up and deliver donations to a nearby distribution center.  

As more news of the widespread devastation spread, our midshipmen responded again, and Spencer Fletcher organized a relief project to help communities--like the Rockaways--hit hard by Sandy.

According to AAA, more than 43.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles from home or farther during this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. About 90 percent of those travelers--39 million people--plan to travel by automobile.

And we at DOT encourage all of them to pay attention and drive with patience and care.

We also know that on Sunday, after a few days of relaxing with their families and friends, those tens of millions of people will be rushing home to prepare for another work week. In fact, the Sunday following Thanksgiving is often the single busiest day of the year on America's highways.

That's why DOT is once again recognizing Drive Safer Sunday by reminding all motorists to buckle up and slow down--particularly on this high volume day.

Drive Safer Sunday was started by Road Safe America, a highway safety adovcacy group founded by Susan and Steve Owings to honor their son Cullum, who was killed in a crash on the Sunday following Thanksgiving in 2002.

We spend Thanksgiving appreciating all we have to be grateful for; let's remember what is important and not sacrifice safety just because we're in a hurry to get home.

So happy Thanksgiving, everyone. And if you're traveling this week, I wish you and your family a very safe trip...and a safe return.

Today--with a $352 million railcar manufacturing contract between the California Department of Transportation and the Nippon Sharyo plant in Rochelle, Illinois--we have further evidence that America's embrace of faster rail travel means American jobs. And I was happy to join Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in Rochelle to celebrate this milestone with Nippon Sharyo employees.

These cars will be built by American workers in America's heartland. California will buy 42 railcars, and the Midwest coalition will buy 88 railcars, which will operate out of Amtrak’s Chicago hub.

Employees of Nippon Sharyo rail plant in Rochelle, IL; all photos courtesy Harvey Tillis, Illinois DOT

The men and women I met yesterday are excited about this, and not just  because of the jobs being created. They're excited to be part of something historic, providing the equipment for the next generation of  transportation.

Building that equipment right here in the U.S. is central to President Obama’s vision for American passenger rail. So DOT is proud to provide a grant from our High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program to support the purchase of these new rail cars.

With Thanksgiving upon us, Americans are in the midst of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year for roads, rails and runways. Here at DOT we want everyone to enjoy their travels safely, no matter how you're getting to your destination.

That means taking an active role in safety. We operate the safest transportation system in the world, but safety doesn't just happen: we can all take some simple steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones this holiday season.

So for air travelers, I'm asking every passenger to take just a few minutes to follow the Federal Aviation Administration's safety tips and--most importantly--pay attention to your flight and cabin crew.

You can make your flight even safer by following these guidelines:

• Pay attention to the flight attendant safety briefing at the beginning of your flight and read the safety briefing card.
• Buckle up. Keep yourself and your family safe by wearing a seat belt at all times while seated.
• Use an approved child safety seat or device if your child weighs less than 40 pounds.
• Prevent in-flight injuries by following your airline’s carry-on bag restrictions.

You can find child safety information and the latest on airport status and delays at www.faa.gov/passengers.

Our Aviation Consumer Protection office also reminds you that you should expect fares and fees as advertised when you booked your ticket. Visit www.dot.gov/airconsumer to learn about your rights as a flier and what you can do if you encounter unexpected events such as flight delays, overbooking, or mishandled baggage. For a range of flying tips from booking to boarding, please read Plane Talk from our air consumer team.

If you're making your way by bus this season, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Bus Passenger website to help make your trip a safe one. FMCSA offers its SaferBus online or mobile app so you can check the safety record of your carrier before boarding your bus.

This weekend in Northern Virginia, in an important development for the entire Metropolitan Washington region, the "495 Express Lanes" will open to the public. These lanes are the first major improvements to the Capital Beltway in a generation, and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was on hand last Tuesday to help Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell celebrate the new lanes.

These Express Lanes offer drivers the option of paying a toll or carpooling to ride in faster-moving traffic. The toll will fluctuate depending upon how many vehicles are already using the lanes. This will reduce congestion for all Beltway travelers--even those who remain on the untolled main roadway. And that means visitors, commuters, and commerce can move more efficiently around the D.C. metro area for decades to come.

The 14-mile corridor of four new lanes--two in each direction--will improve access to Tysons Corner--Virginia's largest employment center--Inova Fairfax Hospital, and Dulles International Airport. The project will also significantly expand the region's high occupancy vehicle (HOV) network by linking with the planned I-95 HOV/HOT lanes, I-66, and the Dulles Toll Road.

In addition to offering motorists a new transportation option, the 495 Express Lanes are valuable as a model of innovative financing.

While I was in New York to talk with Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg about efforts to restore transportation disrupted by Sandy, I also had the opportunity to celebrate a transit project that sets its sights squarely on the future, the Nostrand Avenue Select Bus Service (SBS).

Mayor Bloomberg and I were happy to watch Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan sign a $28.3 million grant agreement that will help construct this 9.3 mile bus rapid transit line in Brooklyn. The grant will cover 71 percent of the total cost of the $40.2 million project.

Commissioner Sadik-Khan and Administrator Rogoff sign the agreement as Mayor Bloomberg and I look on

The line will run in a dedicated bus lane primarily along Nostrand Avenue and will feature traffic signal priority, 17 paired stations, and off-board fare collection to speed up the ride. The buses will boast three doors for getting on and off, and will be low to the ground for easier boarding. The route will extend from the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza to the north all the way to Sheepshead Bay toward the south. Along the way, it will pass through the densely populated communities of Prospect Park and Flatbush.

These enhancements promise to be a marked improvement over the current B44 bus line in speed, convenience, and reliability. That's good news for the 44,000 people who ride the B44 each day, and it's also good news for those who don't ride the B44 because they find it too slow or unpredictable.

"The Nostrand Avenue BRT will offer commuters and others a real choice to get to where they need to go,” said Administrator Rogoff.

When we first began fighting against distracted driving in 2009, only 18 states had laws prohibiting drivers from texting behind the wheel. Now, after more than three years of our safety campaign, the number of states that ban texting while driving has reached 39, plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ten states and DC, Guam, and the Virgin Islands also prohibit talking on a handheld phone while driving.

One state that does not have a texting or handheld cell phone ban for drivers is Florida. It’s critical that this change, and I know some in the Florida State Legislature are working on it. I was encouraged yesterday to meet some of the hundreds of advocates at the first Florida Distracted Driving Summit and hear about their efforts to get a law on the books in the Sunshine State.

The summit--a partnership between USAA Insurance, the Florida DOT, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Distraction Advocates Network--featured testimony from crash victims, doctors, road safety experts, and the loved ones of those killed by this deadly epidemic.

The research makes it clear that using a handheld device behind the wheel creates the perfect storm of visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. The troopers of the Florida State Police and the pediatric surgeons at Shriners Hospitals have seen the evidence firsthand.

And so have Elissa Schee, Kristen Murphy, and Russell and Kim Hurd--just a few of the advocates who have lost children in the prime of their lives to tragic crashes caused by a distracted driver. Margay Schee was 13. Chelsey Murphy was pregnant with her first child. Heather Hurd was on her way to meet her wedding planner.

My message to these brave advocates was simple: tell your stories to your state legislators, and ask them to step up and do what they can to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families by passing a good law and backing it up with good enforcement.

With the reopening of the Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel yesterday, New York marked a significant milestone in its effort to restore transportation after Hurricane Sandy. And I was proud to be in New York to celebrate that achievement with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Joe Lhota.

In the wake of this storm, the President called us to action, asking that we do all we can to support our state and local partners as they work to restore vital transportation infrastructure. President Obama made it clear that our mission was to listen to governors and help them get the assistance they need.

And that is exactly what we’ve done. Less than 24 hours after Sandy made landfall, DOT issued quick release emergency funds to begin repairing roads, highways, seawalls, bridges and tunnels, with $10 million going to help New York. In total, we’ve disbursed $29 million to states recovering from Sandy-related damage.

These funds were issued as part of an extensive federal effort coordinated by FEMA, and you need only to see the scale of recovery operations in Lower Manhattan, including the Carey Tunnel, to gauge the unprecedented responsiveness of that effort.

Yesterday, I was pleased to attend the grand opening of the Monterey-Salinas Transit JAZZ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in California. The new BRT service, funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will cut commuting times in half for riders on existing bus services and improve transit connections for thousands of others.

Many of these folks already depend on the bus to get to work every day--and BRT will get them there and back faster, and more reliably, than ever.

At a new JAZZ BRT bus shelter.

The JAZZ BRT system serves a 6.75-mile route between Sand City Station and the aquarium and travels through Seaside, where many transit-dependent hospitality workers reside.  The $5 million project, which was funded in part by a $2.7 million grant from FTA's Small Starts capital program, will also connect riders with local employment centers and area attractions--opening up new opportunities for the people of Monterey.

And it was fitting to open the new line on a day when we thank our veterans for their service because Monterey County is home to nearly 16,000 active-duty and civilian military personnel, including those stationed at Monterey’s U.S. Coast Guard station. In fact, military ridership on Monterey-Salinas Transit’s non-BRT bus service grew by more than 300 percent between 2010 and 2012. 

This Sunday, November 11, is the day Americans have set aside to honor our Veterans, the heroes whose sacrifices have kept this nation safe and preserved the liberty we hold so dear.

At DOT, we know that we cannot thank our servicemen and women and their families enough for their tireless work on our country's behalf. But we can show our gratitude by making the transition to civilian careers in transportation easier.

Our veterans have the skills and experience to help rebuild America, so we want to put them to work in the skies, on the roads, and throughout our transit and rail systems.

That's why in June we teamed up with the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch the Veterans Transportation Career Center, an online portal to help military personnel and veterans apply the training and job specialty skills acquired in the service to exciting careers in the transportation industry. This site helps those with military experience map how that experience translates into jobs like air traffic controller, rail mechanic, or pilot.

This portal supplements DOT's Careers in Motion: Veteran Opportunities site, which features useful resources like a link to Veteran-oriented career fairs--this month alone there are events in Dallas and Charlotte on the 15th, and in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Oakland on the 29th.

In addition to online resources, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also adopting rules that help veterans connect with good, stable jobs in the truck and bus industry.

FMCSA has adopted a rule that allows states to waive the skills test required for a Commercial Driver’s License for those with 2 years of safe military driving experience.  They are also now implementing a new law enabling military members stationed outside of their home state to obtain a commercial driver’s license. And, they are making funds available for better job training and job placement through Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Training grants. 

 

Despite the arrival of another storm last night, hurricane recovery efforts continue throughout the Northeast.  For DOT, this means working with state and local officials to help commuters get where they need to go and ensure families have access to housing and other resources they need.

For example, our Federal Highway Administration is working with our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) to speed up permitting for carriers moving temporary mobile housing units from Maryland and Alabama to New Jersey.

Transporting temporary housing

Under normal circumstances, carriers have to work with states to get permits from each state they travel through. In this instance, FHWA is coordinating with AASHTO to cut through some of the red tape and get all necessary permits at the same time. In addition, FHWA is also working with states to allow nighttime moves, which aren’t normally allowed.

This partnership will help people move into badly needed temporary housing even faster.

RRF vessel Wright will house and feed emergency staff

Working with the Department of Homeland Security, our Maritime Administration has provided FEMA with several nearby ships to provide lodging, food, and power for emergency response teams who have traveled to New York. 

The TS Empire State, a training vessel berthed at SUNY Maritime Academy, is currently supporting FEMA community relations surge personnel. The Ready Reserve Fleet vessel Wright--out of Baltimore--and the TS Kennedy--out of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts--are being used to house and feed FEMA community relations surge personnel and teams from the American Red Cross.  Both vessels are docked at Home Port Pier on Staten Island.

Emergency fuel arrives

In June, we announced $2.4 million in federal support for California and Delaware to help strengthen distracted driving enforcement efforts in those states. Pilot programs in both states will examine whether increased police enforcement coupled with advertising and news coverage can significantly reduce texting and cell phone use behind the wheel.

Today, the first of those Phone in One Hand; Ticket in the Other pilot enforcement programs hits the streets in Delaware.

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has teamed up with 42 law enforcement agencies across the First State to reduce handheld cell phone use and texting by motorists traveling on Delaware roadways. From today through November 20, law enforcement officers will be out in force to make sure drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

And because too many drivers still don’t get the message that using a cell phone while driving can be dangerous and deadly, this initial distracted driving crackdown in Delaware is only the first of several enforcement waves taking place over the next year.

With Delaware Governor Markell in June, announcing the enforcement grant

As states and communities continue recovering from Hurricane Sandy, President Obama has asked us to ensure that fuel reaches them as quickly as possible.

Yesterday, DOT answered that call when our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it is leading an Interstate Petroleum Transport Team to ensure the fastest and most efficient movement of fuel to the region. The team will be a single point of contact for states, the trucking industry, and other agencies, and it will help remove barriers to expedite quick delivery of fuel.

Different states have different rules covering hours-of-service, truck size and weight, low sulfur diesel use, and more. So this team will help coordinate activities across the states, making sure that truckers can navigate key regulatory issues and fuel can quickly get to the communities that need it.

Many states have already established waivers, and I cannot thank them enough for doing so. To keep carriers up-to-date, FMCSA has posted a convenient online list of these state waivers. 

The team also offers carriers a one-stop solution to ensure the swift delivery of relief goods with a hotline number (1-800-832-5660) to help address any barriers to the flow of fuel carriers to affected states.

At DOT, we are doing everything we can to support our state and local partners in getting their transportation systems up and running. Over the weekend, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) worked with FEMA and the General Services Administration to arrange for 350 buses to be used in New Jersey to fill in where commuter rail service has been disrupted.

The emergency bus service will provide transportation options for NJ Transit customers, with connections to ferries and rail and access to jobs in Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City, and Manhattan. The good news for commuters is that seventy of those buses will arrive ready for service this afternoon in New Jersey and many more will arrive throughout the week.

Aboard with Governor Christie near Mantoloking; photo courtesy Governor's office, Tim Larsen

Separately, FTA continues its efforts to secure commitments from transit authorities along the East Coast to provide buses to transit agencies affected by Hurricane Sandy in case they are needed. Philadelphia’s SEPTA has already loaned 31 transit buses to NJ Transit to help restore transportation service as a result of FTA’s effort. Those buses have been delivered and represent excellent interagency cooperation among regional transit systems.

President Obama told all of us in the Cabinet to go to New York and New Jersey and get to the places that need our help and let the people there know that our Federal government is on this.

So on Friday, I traveled to several sites in New Jersey to see the damage first hand and to find out what more needed to be done.

Road and bridge overtaken by storm surge; photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Olsen

I toured the damage along the New Jersey coast with Governor Christie and U.S. Senator Menendez. Our trip was by boat and took us down the Point Pleasant Canal to the Intercoastal Waterway. From the boat, we were able to see Bayhead, Brick, and Mantoloking. The scene was devastating.

A wide swath of State Route 35 that runs up and down the shore had been overrun by the surging ocean. The surge also ripped away part of the Mantoloking Bridge on State Route 528 and several houses in Mantoloking.

Hoboken Terminal flooding after Sandy

Last week, DOT issued $29 million in quick-release emergency relief funds to get roads, bridges, and tunnels like the ones we saw on our tour open for recovery efforts. New Jersey received $10 million of that money.

When Hurricane Sandy battered the East Coast, President Obama made it clear that we need to do all we can to help communities get their transportation systems up and running. That is exactly what this Department has been doing, including an announcement yesterday that we approved $12 million in quick-release emergency relief funds that are immediately available to New Jersey and Connecticut.

These funds --$10 million for New Jersey and $2 million for Connecticut-- mark another installment of federal-aid highway funds to repair road, bridge, tunnel, and seawall damage from Sandy. Earlier this week, DOT approved $17 million in quick release emergency relief funds for New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina.

New Jersey will use the funding to help maintain essential traffic flow and repair sections of highway necessary to prevent further damage. Connecticut will use it for general emergency repairs to highways.

And today I will tour coastal infrastructure damage in New Jersey with Governor Christie and talk with state and local officials about their efforts to restore transportation and how DOT can help.

Yesterday, states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast continued clearing roads, rails, and transit lines of water and debris. In North Carolina, DOT made immediately available $4 million in quick release emergency relief funds to help begin repairing the damage to the state's highways, seawalls, and bridges. We expect other states to apply for emergency relief funding in the coming days.

President Obama was in New Jersey to witness the devastation, comfort residents, and pledge the full support of the federal government in the recovery effort. Across the state, the storm damaged homes, flooded communities, and left more than 2 million people without power. The President surveyed the effects of the hurricane with Governor Chris Christie and visited displaced residents at a shelter.

"Number one, and most important, our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones," the President said. "My second message is we are here for you, and we will not forget; we will follow up to make sure that you get all the help that you need until you've rebuilt."

Here at DOT, we're working to fulfill that promise by doing all we can to support our state and local partners as they restore vital transportation infrastructure through:

• FHWA emergency relief funding so far in New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina;
• FMCSA emergency declarations that help trucks bring relief supplies and materials into the region without delay;
• FTA technical support for transit systems overwhelmed by the storm's havoc; and
• FAA efforts to re-establish air service in the New York area.